Ughhh

I have just walked back from the hall along the path by the river having to avoid piles of for want of a better word "dog pooh"
I hope you know that I am annoyed and irritated. I am thinking of writing to the council, to my MP and Gordon Brown. Woe betide any dog owner I see who isn't armed with a poop scoop and a plastic bag. Do I sound like "outraged from Tunbridge Wells"?

What a subject for what you thought was a spiritual blog, that is supposed to encourage you in your Christian walk! Well I am coming to that, just give me a minute before you turn to someone's more pleasant deliberations.

I have noticed that the above problem gets much worse at this time of year, as the nights get darker earlier. Speaking to one responsible dog owner I was reliably informed that this has always been the case because there are less people around on a dark evening to see the offenders. Although the mess will be evident in the morning as the children walk to school, the culprits will be long gone and no one will know who was responsible.

Now that is a problem that is much wider that this subject. I have heard Laurance Singlehurst say on many occasions that "everything in this fallen world has a tendency to swing to rot." and he says can never assume that once we have taught or educated people in true Christian values that they will not revert to worldly ones. There is a need to constantly shine light on our attitudes and values because without the light, like irresponsible dog owners we will let good attutides and good practice go.

Paul knew this and wrote, "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed to the light becomes visible for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said "Wake up O Sleeper and rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you." (Eph 5:11-14)

And John wrote, "
God is light in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness we lie and od not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:6-7

As usual when we get angry about other people's misdeeds the Holy Spirit turns the tables. Why do we not get outraged about some of our own attitudes that we allow to flourish because we think no one sees? The truth is of course that God sees the attitude and other people have to live with the offending behaviour that results from them.

I still might write to the council though!

God bless

Carol